2022 Wales rugby union tour of South Africa

Last updated

2022 Wales rugby union tour of South Africa
Coach(es) Wayne Pivac
Tour captain(s) Dan Biggar
Top test point scorer(s) Dan Biggar (26)
Top test try scorer(s) Louis Rees-Zammit (2)
Summary
PWDL
Total
3102
Test match
3102
Opponent
PWDL
Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa
3 1 0 2
Tour chronology
Previous tour Argentina 2018
Next tour Australia 2024

The Wales national rugby union team toured South Africa in July 2022 for a series of three test matches against the South Africa national team. It was the seventh time Wales had toured South Africa in test history. In each of the previous 10 matches contested between the two nations on South African soil – the first of which took place in 1964 – South Africa were the victors.

Contents

South Africa took the lead in the 2022 test series, beating Wales by 32–29 in Pretoria on 2 July. A week later, Wales made history with their first ever test victory in South Africa, leveling the series by winning 13–12 in Bloemfontein on 9 July. The decider took place in Cape Town on 16 July, with South Africa winning 30–14 to take the series.

Squads

South Africa

South Africa named their squad for the three-test series on 11 June 2022. Coach Jacques Nienaber picked 43 players, including eight who were yet to win a cap for the Springboks: Evan Roos, Elrigh Louw, Ruan Nortjé, Salmaan Moerat, Ntuthuko Mchunu, Deon Fourie, Kurt-Lee Arendse and Grant Williams. [1]

Caps and ages are as of 2 July 2022, prior to the first test.

Player Position Date of birth (age)CapsClub/province
Joseph Dweba Hooker (1995-10-25)25 October 1995 (aged 26)1 Flag of France.svg Bordeaux
Malcolm Marx Hooker (1994-07-13)13 July 1994 (aged 27)46 Flag of Japan.svg Kubota Spears
Bongi Mbonambi Hooker (1991-01-07)7 January 1991 (aged 31)48 Flag of South Africa.svg Sharks
Thomas du Toit Prop (1995-05-05)5 May 1995 (aged 27)13 Flag of South Africa.svg Sharks
Steven Kitshoff Prop (1992-02-10)10 February 1992 (aged 30)59 Flag of South Africa.svg Stormers
Vincent Koch Prop (1990-03-13)13 March 1990 (aged 32)31 Flag of England.svg Saracens
Frans Malherbe Prop (1991-03-14)14 March 1991 (aged 31)46 Flag of South Africa.svg Stormers
Ntuthuko Mchunu Prop (1999-04-05)5 April 1999 (aged 23)0 Flag of South Africa.svg Sharks
Ox Nché Prop (1995-07-23)23 July 1995 (aged 26)9 Flag of South Africa.svg Sharks
Trevor Nyakane Prop (1989-05-04)4 May 1989 (aged 33)54 Flag of France.svg Racing 92
Lood de Jager Lock (1992-12-17)17 December 1992 (aged 29)56 Flag of England.svg Sale Sharks
Eben Etzebeth Lock (1991-10-29)29 October 1991 (aged 30)97 Flag of South Africa.svg Sharks
Salmaan Moerat Lock (1998-03-06)6 March 1998 (aged 24)0 Flag of South Africa.svg Stormers
Ruan Nortjé Lock (1998-07-25)25 July 1998 (aged 23)0 Flag of South Africa.svg Bulls
Franco Mostert Lock (1990-11-27)27 November 1990 (aged 31)51 Flag of Japan.svg Mie Honda Heat
Marvin Orie Lock (1993-02-15)15 February 1993 (aged 29)7 Flag of South Africa.svg Stormers
Pieter-Steph du Toit Loose forward (1992-08-20)20 August 1992 (aged 29)58 Flag of Japan.svg Toyota Verblitz
Marcell Coetzee Loose forward (1991-05-08)8 May 1991 (aged 31)30 Flag of South Africa.svg Bulls
Rynhardt Elstadt Loose forward (1989-10-20)20 October 1989 (aged 32)3 Flag of France.svg Toulouse
Deon Fourie Loose forward (1986-09-25)25 September 1986 (aged 35)0 Flag of South Africa.svg Stormers
Siya Kolisi (c) Loose forward (1991-06-16)16 June 1991 (aged 31)63 Flag of South Africa.svg Sharks
Elrigh Louw Loose forward (1999-10-20)20 October 1999 (aged 22)0 Flag of South Africa.svg Bulls
Evan Roos Loose forward (2000-01-21)21 January 2000 (aged 22)0 Flag of South Africa.svg Stormers
Kwagga Smith Loose forward (1993-06-11)11 June 1993 (aged 29)19 Flag of Japan.svg Shizuoka Blue Revs
Jasper Wiese Loose forward (1995-10-21)21 October 1995 (aged 26)11 Flag of England.svg Leicester Tigers
Faf de Klerk Scrum-half (1991-10-19)19 October 1991 (aged 30)36 Flag of England.svg Sale Sharks
Jaden Hendrikse Scrum-half (2000-03-23)23 March 2000 (aged 22)2 Flag of South Africa.svg Sharks
Herschel Jantjies Scrum-half (1996-04-22)22 April 1996 (aged 26)21 Flag of South Africa.svg Stormers
Cobus Reinach Scrum-half (1990-02-07)7 February 1990 (aged 32)21 Flag of France.svg Montpellier
Grant Williams Scrum-half (1996-07-22)22 July 1996 (aged 25)0 Flag of South Africa.svg Sharks
Elton Jantjies Fly-half (1990-08-01)1 August 1990 (aged 31)44 Flag of Japan.svg NTT Red Hurricanes
Handré Pollard Fly-half (1994-03-11)11 March 1994 (aged 28)60 Flag of France.svg Montpellier
Lukhanyo Am Centre (1993-11-28)28 November 1993 (aged 28)26 Flag of South Africa.svg Sharks
Damian de Allende Centre (1991-11-25)25 November 1991 (aged 30)58 IRFU flag.svg Munster
André Esterhuizen Centre (1994-03-30)30 March 1994 (aged 28)8 Flag of England.svg Harlequins
Jesse Kriel Centre (1994-02-15)15 February 1994 (aged 28)51 Flag of Japan.svg Yokohama Canon Eagles
Cheslin Kolbe Wing (1993-10-28)28 October 1993 (aged 28)18 Flag of France.svg Toulon
Makazole Mapimpi Wing (1990-07-26)26 July 1990 (aged 31)25 Flag of South Africa.svg Sharks
Kurt-Lee Arendse Wing (1996-06-17)17 June 1996 (aged 26)0 Flag of South Africa.svg Bulls
Aphelele Fassi Fullback (1998-01-23)23 January 1998 (aged 24)2 Flag of South Africa.svg Sharks
Warrick Gelant Fullback (1995-05-20)20 May 1995 (aged 27)9 Flag of South Africa.svg Stormers
Willie le Roux Fullback (1989-08-18)18 August 1989 (aged 32)71 Flag of Japan.svg Toyota Verblitz
Damian Willemse Fullback (1998-05-07)7 May 1998 (aged 24)15 Flag of South Africa.svg Stormers

Wales

Wales coach Wayne Pivac named a squad of 33 for the tour, including two uncapped players in forwards Tommy Reffell and James Ratti, while flanker Dan Lydiate, fly-half Rhys Patchell and centre George North made their returns after long absences due to injury. [2] Surprise omissions from the squad included forwards Seb Davies, James Botham and Jac Morgan. [3] [4] On 7 June, Dragons prop Leon Brown pulled out through injury and was replaced by Sam Wainwright. [5] Scarlets prop Harri O'Connor was added to the squad on 21 June. [6] Fly-half Gareth Anscombe joined up with the squad on 28 June, having stayed back in Wales pending the birth of his second child. [7]

Player Position Date of birth (age)CapsClub/province
Ryan Elias Hooker (1995-01-07) 7 January 1995 (age 30)27 Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Scarlets
Dewi Lake Hooker (1999-05-16) 16 May 1999 (age 25)5 Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Ospreys
Sam Parry Hooker (1991-12-17) 17 December 1991 (age 33)5 Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Ospreys
Rhys Carré Prop (1998-02-08) 8 February 1998 (age 27)16 Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Cardiff
Tomas Francis Prop (1992-04-27) 27 April 1992 (age 32)64 Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Ospreys
Wyn Jones Prop (1992-02-26) 26 February 1992 (age 33)43 Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Scarlets
Dillon Lewis Prop (1996-01-04) 4 January 1996 (age 29)38 Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Cardiff
Harri O'Connor Prop (2000-10-25) 25 October 2000 (age 24)0 Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Scarlets
Gareth Thomas Prop (1993-08-02) 2 August 1993 (age 31)10 Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Ospreys
Sam Wainwright Prop (1998-05-07) 7 May 1998 (age 26)0 Flag of England.svg Saracens
Adam Beard Lock (1996-01-07) 7 January 1996 (age 29)34 Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Ospreys
Ben Carter Lock (2001-01-23) 23 January 2001 (age 24)6 Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Dragons
Alun Wyn Jones Lock (1985-09-19) 19 September 1985 (age 39)150 Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Ospreys
Will Rowlands Lock (1991-09-19) 19 September 1991 (age 33)18 Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Dragons
Taine Basham Back row (1999-11-02) 2 November 1999 (age 25)10 Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Dragons
Taulupe Faletau Back row (1990-11-12) 12 November 1990 (age 34)89 Flag of England.svg Bath
Dan Lydiate Back row (1987-12-18) 18 December 1987 (age 37)65 Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Ospreys
Josh Navidi Back row (1990-12-30) 30 December 1990 (age 34)30 Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Cardiff
James Ratti Back row (1997-10-14) 14 October 1997 (age 27)0 Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Cardiff
Tommy Reffell Back row (1999-04-27) 27 April 1999 (age 25)0 Flag of England.svg Leicester Tigers
Gareth Davies Scrum-half (1990-08-18) 18 August 1990 (age 34)67 Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Scarlets
Kieran Hardy Scrum-half (1995-11-30) 30 November 1995 (age 29)11 Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Scarlets
Tomos Williams Scrum-half (1995-01-01) 1 January 1995 (age 30)33 Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Cardiff
Gareth Anscombe Fly-half (1991-05-10) 10 May 1991 (age 33)31 Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Ospreys
Dan Biggar Fly-half (1989-10-16) 16 October 1989 (age 35)100 Flag of England.svg Northampton Saints
Rhys Patchell Fly-half (1993-05-17) 17 May 1993 (age 31)21 Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Scarlets
George North Centre (1992-04-13) 13 April 1992 (age 32)102 Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Ospreys
Nick Tompkins Centre (1995-02-16) 16 February 1995 (age 30)20 Flag of England.svg Saracens
Owen Watkin Centre (1996-10-12) 12 October 1996 (age 28)31 Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Ospreys
Johnny Williams Centre (1996-10-18) 18 October 1996 (age 28)5 Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Scarlets
Josh Adams Wing (1995-04-21) 21 April 1995 (age 29)39 Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Cardiff
Alex Cuthbert Wing (1990-04-05) 5 April 1990 (age 35)51 Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Ospreys
Louis Rees-Zammit Wing (2001-02-02) 2 February 2001 (age 24)16 Flag of England.svg Gloucester
Liam Williams Fullback (1991-04-09) 9 April 1991 (age 34)78 Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Scarlets

Fixtures

The tour was confirmed in February 2022, with the two sides scheduled to play three tests in July 2022. The first test would be played at Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria on 2 July, the second test at Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein on 9 July, and the third test at Newlands Stadium in Cape Town on 16 July. [8]

1st test

2 July 2022
17:05 SAST (UTC+02)
South Africa  Flag of South Africa.svg32–29Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales
Try: Mbonambi 46' c
Marx 51' m
Kolbe 66' c
Penalty try 75'
Con: Willemse (2/3) 48', 68'
Pen: E. Jantjies (1/3) 17'
Willemse (1/1) 80+3'
Report Try: Rees-Zammit (2) 3' m, 32' c
Lake 77' m
Con: Biggar (1/3) 34'
Pen: Biggar (3/3) 20', 55', 63'
Drop: Biggar (1/1) 9'
Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria
Attendance: 51,762
Referee: Nika Amashukeli (Georgia)
Team details
FB15 Damian Willemse
RW14 Cheslin Kolbe
OC13 Lukhanyo Am
IC12 Damian de Allende
LW11 Makazole Mapimpi
FH10 Elton Jantjies Sub off.svg 41'
SH9 Faf de Klerk Sub off.svg 71'
N88 Jasper Wiese
BF7 Franco Mostert Sub off.svg 51'
OF6 Siya Kolisi (c)Sub off.svg 51'
RL5 Lood de Jager
LL4 Eben Etzebeth Sub off.svg 70'
TP3 Frans Malherbe Sub off.svg 50'
HK2 Bongi Mbonambi Sub off.svg 50'
LP1 Ox Nché Sub off.svg 50'
Replacements:
HK16 Malcolm Marx Sub on.svg 50'
PR17 Steven Kitshoff Sub on.svg 50'
PR18 Vincent Koch Sub on.svg 50'
LK19 Salmaan Moerat Sub on.svg 70'
FL20 Elrigh Louw Sub on.svg 51'
FL21 Kwagga Smith Sub on.svg 51'
SH22 Herschel Jantjies Sub on.svg 71'
FB23 Willie le Roux Sub on.svg 41'
Coach:
Flag of South Africa.svg Jacques Nienaber
South Africa vs Wales 2022-07-02.svg
FB15 Liam Williams
RW14 Louis Rees-Zammit Yellow card.svg 74'
OC13 George North
IC12 Nick Tompkins
LW11 Josh Adams Sub off.svg 63'
FH10 Dan Biggar (c)Yellow card.svg 38'
SH9 Kieran Hardy Sub off.svg 53'
N88 Taulupe Faletau
OF7 Tommy Reffell
BF6 Dan Lydiate Sub off.svg 63'
RL5 Adam Beard Sub off.svg 50'
LL4 Will Rowlands
TP3 Dillon Lewis Sub off.svg 45'Sub on.svg 50'
HK2 Ryan Elias Sub off.svg 50'
LP1 Gareth Thomas Sub off.svg 53'
Replacements:
HK16 Dewi Lake Sub on.svg 50'
PR17 Rhys Carre Yellow card.svg 75'Sub on.svg 53'
PR18 Tomas Francis Sub on.svg 45'Sub off.svg 50'
LK19 Alun Wyn Jones Yellow card.svg 66'Sub on.svg 50'
FL20 Josh Navidi Sub on.svg 63'
SH21 Tomos Williams Sub on.svg 53'
FH22 Gareth Anscombe
CE23 Owen Watkin Sub on.svg 63'
Coach:
Flag of New Zealand.svg Wayne Pivac

Assistant referees:
Angus Gardner (Australia)
Andrea Piardi (Italy)
Television match official:
Joy Neville (Ireland)

Notes:

2nd test

9 July 2022
17:05 SAST (UTC+02)
South Africa  Flag of South Africa.svg12–13Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales
Pen: Pollard (4/6) 5', 43', 51', 59' Report Try: Adams 77' c
Con: Anscombe (1/1) 78'
Pen: Biggar (1/2) 2'
Anscombe (1/2) 66'
Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein
Referee: Angus Gardner (Australia)
Team details
FB15 Warrick Gelant
RW14 Kurt-Lee Arendse
OC13 Jesse Kriel
IC12 André Esterhuizen
LW11 Aphelele Fassi Sub off.svg 67'
FH10 Handré Pollard (c)Sub off.svg 73'
SH9 Jaden Hendrikse
N88 Evan Roos Sub off.svg 47'
BF7 Pieter-Steph du Toit
OF6 Marcell Coetzee Sub off.svg 47'
RL5 Marvin Orie Sub off.svg 59'
LL4 Eben Etzebeth
TP3 Trevor Nyakane Sub off.svg 41'
HK2 Joseph Dweba Sub off.svg 41'
LP1 Thomas du Toit Sub off.svg 47'
Replacements:
HK16 Malcolm Marx Sub on.svg 41'
PR17 Ntuthuko Mchunu Sub on.svg 47'
PR18 Vincent Koch Sub on.svg 41'
LK19 Ruan Nortjé Sub on.svg 59'
FL20 Rynhardt Elstadt Sub on.svg 47'
FL21 Deon Fourie Sub on.svg 47'
SH22 Grant Williams Sub on.svg 73'
FB23 Damian Willemse Sub on.svg 67'
Coach:
Flag of South Africa.svg Jacques Nienaber
South Africa vs Wales 2022-07-09.svg
FB15 Liam Williams
RW14 Louis Rees-Zammit
OC13 George North
IC12 Nick Tompkins
LW11 Alex Cuthbert Sub off.svg 17'
FH10 Dan Biggar (c)Sub off.svg 50'
SH9 Kieran Hardy Sub off.svg 41'
N88 Taulupe Faletau
OF7 Tommy Reffell
BF6 Dan Lydiate Sub off.svg 59'
RL5 Adam Beard
LL4 Will Rowlands Sub off.svg 54'
TP3 Dillon Lewis Sub off.svg 65'
HK2 Ryan Elias Sub off.svg 49'
LP1 Gareth Thomas Sub off.svg 49'
Replacements:
HK16 Dewi Lake Sub on.svg 49'
PR17 Wyn Jones Sub on.svg 49'
PR18 Sam Wainwright Sub on.svg 65'
LK19 Alun Wyn Jones Yellow card.svg 56'Sub on.svg 54'
FL20 Josh Navidi Sub on.svg 59'
SH21 Tomos Williams Sub on.svg 41'
FH22 Gareth Anscombe Sub on.svg 50'
WG23 Josh Adams Sub on.svg 17'
Coach:
Flag of New Zealand.svg Wayne Pivac

Assistant referees:
Matthew Carley (England)
Andrea Piardi (Italy)
Television match official:
Brett Cronan (Australia)

Notes:

3rd test

16 July 2022
17:05 SAST (UTC+02)
South Africa  Flag of South Africa.svg30–14Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales
Try: Pollard 14' c
Mbonambi 38' c
Kolisi 53' c
Con: Pollard (3/3) 16', 39', 54'
Pen: Pollard (3/3) 5', 78', 80+1'
Report Try: Reffell 19' m
Pen: Biggar (3/3) 33', 42', 48'
Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town
Referee: Matthew Carley (England)
Team details
FB15 Damian Willemse
RW14 Cheslin Kolbe Sub off.svg 21'
OC13 Lukhanyo Am
IC12 Damian de Allende
LW11 Makazole Mapimpi
FH10 Handré Pollard
SH9 Jaden Hendrikse Sub off.svg 65'
N88 Jasper Wiese Sub off.svg 39'
BF7 Pieter-Steph du Toit Sub off.svg 77'
OF6 Siya Kolisi (c)
RL5 Lood de Jager
LL4 Eben Etzebeth Sub off.svg 61'
TP3 Frans Malherbe Sub off.svg 45'
HK2 Bongi Mbonambi Sub off.svg 45'
LP1 Trevor Nyakane Sub off.svg 45'
Replacements:
HK16 Malcolm Marx Sub on.svg 45'
PR17 Steven Kitshoff Sub on.svg 45'
PR18 Vincent Koch Sub on.svg 45'
LK19 Franco Mostert Sub on.svg 61'
FL20 Kwagga Smith Sub on.svg 39'
FL21 Elrigh Louw Sub on.svg 77'
SH22 Faf de Klerk Sub on.svg 65'
FB23 Willie le Roux Sub on.svg 21'
Coach:
Flag of South Africa.svg Jacques Nienaber
South Africa vs Wales 2022-07-16.svg
FB15 Liam Williams
RW14 Louis Rees-Zammit
OC13 George North
IC12 Nick Tompkins Sub off.svg 60'
LW11 Josh Adams
FH10 Dan Biggar (c)
SH9 Kieran Hardy Sub off.svg 51'
N88 Josh Navidi
OF7 Tommy Reffell Sub off.svg 55'
BF6 Dan Lydiate Sub off.svg 16'
RL5 Adam Beard
LL4 Will Rowlands
TP3 Dillon Lewis Sub off.svg 41'
HK2 Ryan Elias Sub off.svg 40'
LP1 Gareth Thomas Sub off.svg 56'
Replacements:
HK16 Dewi Lake Sub on.svg 40'
PR17 Wyn Jones Sub on.svg 56'
PR18 Sam Wainwright Sub on.svg 41'
LK19 Alun Wyn Jones Sub on.svg 16'
FL20 Taine Basham Sub on.svg 55'
SH21 Tomos Williams Sub on.svg 51'
FH22 Rhys Patchell
CE23 Owen Watkin Sub on.svg 60'
Coach:
Flag of New Zealand.svg Wayne Pivac

Assistant referees:
Angus Gardner (Australia)
Nika Amashukeli (Georgia)
Television match official:
Brett Cronan (Australia)

Notes:

See also

References

  1. "South Africa call up eight uncapped players ahead of Wales visit". BBC Sport. 11 June 2022. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
  2. "Uncapped pair Tommy Reffell and James Ratti named by Wales for South Africa trip". BBC Sport. 18 May 2022. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
  3. "Cardiff boss Dai Young disappointed by Wales omissions for Seb Davies and James Botham". BBC Sport. 18 May 2022. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
  4. "Jac Morgan: Ospreys surprised by reasons for omission of Wales flanker". BBC Sport. 18 May 2022. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
  5. "Sam Wainwright replaces injured prop Leon Brown in Wales squad for South Africa". BBC Sport. 7 June 2022. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
  6. "Wales v South Africa: Scarlets prop Harri O'Connor called up for Springboks tour". BBC Sport. 21 June 2022. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
  7. "Gareth Anscombe: Wales fly-half joins squad in South Africa". BBC Sport. 26 June 2022. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
  8. "South Africa tour: Springboks confirm three July 2022 test dates for Wales visit". BBC Sport. 8 February 2022. Retrieved 30 June 2022.